One of the most important assets we have in Metro Detroit is our water. From drinking it to our access to it, it's a vital part of what makes our region an attractive place to live.

So in a wide-ranging conversation with Macomb County Public Works Commissioner Candice Miller, some of the topics we touch on:

- Why we should invest to rebuild our antiquated sewer systems for the future

- Eliminating combined sewer overflows to protect the Great Lakes and reduce flooding

- Dealing with a contentious issue of unpaid bills in Highland Park

- Why she decided to focus back on local, practical things in Michigan instead of Washington

- A program to collect trash from our drains and waterways before it gets into the Great Lakes